The canticles or Balades of Salomon phraselyke declared in Englysh Metres, by William Baldwin |
 | I. |
| i. |
| ii. |
| iii. |
| iv. |
| v. |
v. The Churche to the Younglinges.
|
| vi. |
| vii. |
| viii. |
| ix. |
| x. |
| xi. |
 | II. |
| III. |
| IIII. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
 | The firste Chapter.
The canticles or Balades of Salomon |  |
v. The Churche to the Younglinges.
The Argument.
Because it is nedefull that al whiche wyl be partakers of the benefites and swete consolacions of Christe, muste also be partakers of his troubles and bitter affliccions: For persecucion foloweth the gospell: eyther inwardly by temptacion of the wicked deuyll, or els outwardly by the malice of his cruel ministers: therfore the Churche by example of her self warneth the Younglynges herof, syngyng as foloweth.
O ye fayer Daughters of Ierusalem,
Ye faythful folke whiche pleased are so wel
In Christes teates in whiche there is no wem,
And in his restful parlers where ye dwel:
Ye faythful folke whiche pleased are so wel
In Christes teates in whiche there is no wem,
And in his restful parlers where ye dwel:
Now take good heed, and learne ye al by me
In fayth to stande in stormie troubles stoute.
Loe I am blacke welfauored though I be:
For persecucion toucheth me without.
In fayth to stande in stormie troubles stoute.
Loe I am blacke welfauored though I be:
For persecucion toucheth me without.
Without I am lyke to the
Scithicke tentes,
Whiche outward blacke kepe treasures hyd within:
For though I be afflict with diuers dentes,
No farther yet pearce they than to the skin.
Whiche outward blacke kepe treasures hyd within:
For though I be afflict with diuers dentes,
No farther yet pearce they than to the skin.
The peace of Christe doeth styll within me dwel,
And I am lyke to Salomons curtin:
For purple sylke, with fayth adorned wel,
And with Gods spirit, in stede of Cherubin.
And I am lyke to Salomons curtin:
For purple sylke, with fayth adorned wel,
And with Gods spirit, in stede of Cherubin.
Despise me not therfore though I be broun,
In syght of men bothe abiect, vayne and vyle:
For why the Sunne, euen Christe hath shyned doun,
And burnt my soule, whiche sinnes do sore defyle.
In syght of men bothe abiect, vayne and vyle:
For why the Sunne, euen Christe hath shyned doun,
And burnt my soule, whiche sinnes do sore defyle.
So that my wurkes appere now through his lyght,
Ful foule (God wote) the best not free from sin.
Yet by his beames that shyne on me so bright
I mortifie olde Adam hyd within.
Ful foule (God wote) the best not free from sin.
Yet by his beames that shyne on me so bright
I mortifie olde Adam hyd within.
Why I am blacke an other cause there is:
My mothers sonnes (for Eua is mother of all)
Fel out with me, the cause wherof is this:
I damne my wurkes, on Christes mercies I call,
My mothers sonnes (for Eua is mother of all)
Fel out with me, the cause wherof is this:
I damne my wurkes, on Christes mercies I call,
True fayth in Christe all only maketh me iust.
Thus I beleue, wherat they all repyne,
And would compel me on my wurkes to trust.
Eke in theyr vines, theyr lawes to bad for swyne
Thus I beleue, wherat they all repyne,
And would compel me on my wurkes to trust.
Eke in theyr vines, theyr lawes to bad for swyne
They haue me set, a keper for to be.
Of Sathanas the Synagog they arre,
A minister wherof they dyd make me:
Which made me blacke, and doeth my beautie marre.
Of Sathanas the Synagog they arre,
A minister wherof they dyd make me:
Which made me blacke, and doeth my beautie marre.
They made me thinke that false hypocrisie,
With ryghtles rites deuised by theyr brayne,
Were able ynough my soule to iustifie:
By meanes wherof, Kristes death I counted vayne.
With ryghtles rites deuised by theyr brayne,
Were able ynough my soule to iustifie:
By meanes wherof, Kristes death I counted vayne.
And these theyr lawes repugnant to the truth,
Theyr vineyardes vile, I haue attended long.
But myne owne vyne, my soule euen from my youth,
I haue not kept, but euermore gone wrong.
But myne owne vyne, my soule euen from my youth,
I haue not kept, but euermore gone wrong.
| The firste Chapter.
The canticles or Balades of Salomon | |